Hydrostatic testing tool and methods of use

Abstract

A hydrostatic testing tool for testing containers, hoses or the like under high pressures. The testing tool having a coupling that threadably engages a threaded aperture of a test container without having to be rotated into the threaded aperture. The hydrostatic testing tool may be hooked up to a source of pressurized medium and the tool includes a container-engaging head having a plurality of collet segments that each have a threaded surface that can expand radially outward, partially due to the force of the pressurized medium, to engage a threaded aperture of the test container, allowing for the formation of a liquid and/or gas tight seal under high pressures. The testing tool further includes an actuating unit connected to the head that controls the movement of the collet segments with a piston or the like.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A tool for engaging and retaining an article having a threaded aperture,
 the tool comprising: 
 a head having a collet body including at least three collet segments collectively forming a cylindrical outer perimeter having a variable perimeter and a central longitudinal axis, each collet segment having a threaded surface; and 
 an actuator unit interconnected with the head and constructed and arranged to selectively vary the diameter of the outer perimeter to selectively engage and disengage the threaded aperture of the article. 
 
     
     
       2. The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator unit includes an actuator assembly having a lever; and
 the lever being movable to selectively vary the diameter of the outer perimeter. 
 
     
     
       3. The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the collet body further includes:
 an annular slot located rearward of the threaded surfaces and extending about the collet body outer perimeter; and 
 a biasing device received into the annular slot to apply a force to urge the collet segments radially inward and together so as to bias the collet segments in an initial unexpanded condition. 
 
     
     
       4. The tool of  claim 3 , further comprising a sliding piston that is retained by the actuator unit and is selectively movable forwardly within the actuator unit and toward the head from an initial piston position and cooperating with the biasing device to move the collet segments to an expanded condition by overcoming the force of the biasing device and permitting the biasing device force to return the collet segments to an unexpanded condition when the piston moves rearwardly to the initial piston position. 
     
     
       5. The tool of  claim 4 , wherein the collet segments are moveable parallel to the longitudinal axis independently of each other to allow the segments to longitudinally, independently align their respective threaded surfaces with the threaded aperture of the article. 
     
     
       6. The tool of  claim 1 , further comprising a sliding piston that is retained by the actuator unit and is selectively movable forwardly within the actuator unit and toward the head from an initial piston position to thereby move the collet segments from an unexpanded condition to an expanded condition, the collet segments returning to the unexpanded condition when the piston moves rearwardly to the initial piston position. 
     
     
       7. The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the collet body includes six collet segments. 
     
     
       8. The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the collet segments are moveable parallel to the longitudinal axis independently of each other to allow the segments to longitudinally, independently align their threaded surfaces with the threaded aperture of the article. 
     
     
       9. A tool for engaging and retaining an article having a threaded aperture, the tool comprising:
 a head having a collet body and including a plurality of collet segments arranged around a central longitudinal axis, each collet segment having an outer surface, the outer surfaces of the plurality of collet segments collectively forming an outer perimeter constructed and arranged to enter and engage the threaded aperture, the collet segments being moveable toward and away from the central axis to cause the size of the outer perimeter to vary when the segments move toward and away from the central axis, each collet segment having a thread on at least part of its outer surface to match and engage the threaded aperture when the collet segments move outward from the central axis into contact with the threaded aperture; and 
 an actuator unit interconnected with the head and constructed and arranged to selectively move the collet segments outward and inward relative to the central axis to vary the size of the outer perimeter to thereby selectively engage and disengage the threaded aperture of the article. 
 
     
     
       10. The tool of  claim 9 , wherein the actuator unit further includes an actuator assembly having a lever, wherein the lever can be moved to selectively expand the collet segments. 
     
     
       11. The tool of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a sleeve at least partially positioned within the head; and 
 a seal retained in the sleeve, 
 wherein rotating the sleeve causes the seal to be pressed against the article and results in compression of the seal to create a seal between the sleeve and the article. 
 
     
     
       12. The tool of  claim 9 , wherein
 the collet body has an annular slot extending about its outer perimeter; and 
 a biasing device received into the annular slot to apply a force to urge the collet segments together so as to bias the collet segments in an unexpanded condition. 
 
     
     
       13. The tool of  claim 12 , further comprising a sliding piston that is retained by the actuator unit and is selectively movable forwardly within the actuator unit and toward the head from an initial piston position and cooperating with the biasing device to move the collet segments to an expanded condition by overcoming the force of the biasing device and permitting the biasing device force to return the collet segments to an unexpanded condition when the piston moves rearwardly to the initial piston position. 
     
     
       14. The tool of  claim 9 , further comprising a sliding piston that is retained by the actuator unit and moves forward and rearward within the actuator unit to selectively expand and contract the collet segments. 
     
     
       15. The tool of  claim 9 , wherein the collet body includes six collet segments.